Howard to Shaq: "Your time is up"

[Andrew]

Dwight Howard fires back at Shaq: 'Your time is up'

Three-and-a-half years ago, Dwight Howard slumped his shoulders inside Staples Center and responded sheepishly on the issue of Shaquille O'Neal trashing him over and over.

"I can't tell you why he's said a lot of discouraging things," Howard said to me. "I wish he wouldn't say it because he's one of the few guys that we all look up to."

As a 23-year-old reaching the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, Howard was still an earnest young star searching out the blessing that never came from Shaq.

For all the preaching Shaq had done about paying respect to your elders, Howard never understood why his relentless praise of Shaq was reciprocated with ridicule and scorn. Howard never understood why Shaq didn't see it as flattering that an engaging, dynamic young center had grown up idolizing, even emulating, him.

Now, Howard's a Laker, Shaq's retired to television and his criticisms promise to get only sharper and sharper. And so when word was passed onto Howard that O'Neal had compared him unfavorably to Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez, Howard did something long overdue: He stood up for himself and fired back at O'Neal.

"Shaq played the game and he is done," Howard told reporters on Thursday. "It's time to move on. He hated the fact when he played that older guys were talking about him and how he played. Now he's doing the exact same thing. Just let it go. There's no sense for him to be talking trash to me. He did his thing in the league. Sit back and relax.
"Your time is up."

Good for Howard for firing back. As Woj notes, that's probably not going to be the end of it, but it's something Shaq should let go. He's entitled to his opinions and feelings, and he's under no obligation to like Howard, but it has gotten rather petty and childish. I'm inclined to agree with Kareem:

Outside the interview room that day during the June '09 NBA Finals, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shook his head, and told me of Shaq, "Sometimes I wonder about his maturity. He doesn't need to do that. He's achieved so much. I don't know why he stoops to that."

[Kenny]

I'm losing my respect for Shaq the longer he's an "analyst". He never gives guys like Howard or Bosh any credit because of personal differences he's had with them in the past. He's basically to Chris Bosh what Skip Bayless is to LeBron.

I understand that he likes a more traditional centre, but his criticism towards Howard goes way beyond that.

[benji]

Shaq has a problem with separating his personal feelings from his analysis in contrast to someone like Barkley who doesn't have this issue.

You can tell how players take criticism from each when even if Barkley says something similar (and he does fairly regularly) the players still love talking to him or calling him out during interviews/etc. With Shaq they mostly want to avoid the topic.

Plus Shaq holds onto grudges for a while, Barkley barely seems to form them.

[bowdown]

Shaq should really stop saying stuff like this. He is going to be written off soon enough if he keeps saying stupid shit like this, especially now that he is retired.

[Andrew]

It's a shame because Shaq is one of the best "characters" that the game has ever seen, but that stuff shows a very ugly side of his personality.

[Like A Boss]

Shaq, had a good image while playing now? I don't think so

[NovU]

Shaq has a problem with separating his personal feelings from his analysis in contrast to someone like Barkley who doesn't have this issue.

Probably the reason why I miss Webber.

[Andrew]

Shaq, had a good image while playing now? I don't think so

Who said that?

[Like A Boss]

Ok let me rephrase I felt I said the wrong one...

I felt Shaq is not a good analyst. I think he doesn't know how to divide his analyst job to his personal feelings, so instead of giving a TRUE Statement it comes with his personal feelings.

[Jackal]

So you're saying..

He isn't a good analyst because he can't draw a line between fact and his personal opinion? Or because his personal feelings can't be divided he isn't a good analyst?

I don't think the other people said the same thing, so I'm not sure if you mean he isn't a good reputation when he played, could you clarify?

[benji]

Shaq, had a good image while playing now? I don't think so

Who said that?

I wonder if it should read: "Shaq had a good image while playing. Now? I don't think so."

[Like A Boss]

I think his analysis will not be that accurate unless he is able to seperate his feelings and his job, and no im not saying he is a bad analyst I just think he needs to adjust.

[Jackal]

But your previous post said you don't think he's a good analyst. Is that because he doesn't adjust his feelings or not seperate them? What would make him better?

[benji]

I'm not sure if it's that Shaq can't do it, or if it's that he doesn't want to.

If he moved to the ESPN broadcasts it'd probably be better. He's a far better "personality" than Magic or whoever ESPN drags up, but he can't "fourth wheel" with EJ/Kenny/Charles who are incredibly established now. One reason I really liked Webber was because he could play that role. Even Payton is good at it. Steve Kerr or Reggie too. They all know it's those other guys show first.

With Shaq, everything grinds to a halt as either he tries to inject himself into the flow or EJ tries to involve him. Webber would argue with Chuck or Kenny within whatever context. Shaq rejects theirs and substitutes his own.

Really if TNT has to use Shaq they should send him out on remotes or something. That'd probably be a better use of him since it'd give him the same time in the show but without wrecking the on set stuff.

[homicide1550]

Dwight is right, Shaq should just let it go...